Late afternoon/early evening all-weather flat racing on Thursday comes from Chelmsford. It’s all taking place on the Polytrack surface, and we’ve a cracking eight-race card.
Hollie Doyle and James Doyle are among the top jocks on view, for what should be a very entertaining fixture.
16.55 Rhythmic Acclaim @ 9/2
A 6f apprentice handicap, where the significance of the jockey is arguably even more important than in a senior event. There are some good ones here, no question – and I’ve plumped for one of them in the form of Adam Farragher.
He gets the call for plenty of William Haggas’ charges – praise indeed. ‘Acclaim’ ran respectably here last time in a slightly higher grade, and in early August really performed admirably with a mere 2l reverse at HQ, again in a Class 5. He drops to the basement Class 6 here and with a decent familiarity with Chelmsford he can go very close.
Finished well last time and regular pilot Adam will know better on this occasion to challenge a little earlier if possible.
18.30 Elusive Tiger @ 7/2
A trappy mile handicap, but in Elusive Tiger we’ve got a 3-yr-old trained by Archie Watson and ridden by Hollie Doyle – a lethal combination down the years.
Returning from a break after being gelded in March, the ‘Tiger’ was a running-on fourth over 7f at Wolves 13 days ago, and gets Hollie for the first time on Thursday. He’s a son of Jungle Cat, the globetrotter who was very smart at up to 7f, but Wolverhampton seemed to suggest that this mile will be within compass.
It’s only a modest contest but his rivals look exposed, and with a little improvement he’s bang in the picture for me.
20.30 Hot Team @ 13/2
It’s that man Adam Farragher once more, claiming his 3lb this time against the seniors, who I hope once again can have the answer.
Hot Team ran very well last time at Leicester under another brilliant apprentice Billy Loughnane. He was only narrowly denied at Haydock in August too, in a grade higher. Last late-summer he won off 59, and lines up here on a mark of 54. Add in the claim and for me his credentials are there for all to see.
Merseyside handler Patrick Morris makes the long journey south and let’s hope that the trip back is a happy one.
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